Reduce Travel Day Stress In Two Easy Steps

It had been a turbulent flight – turbulence not so much from the weather as from the person kicking the back of her chair.

While the airport clock showed 11:30 pm, it was 1:30 am according to her circadian clock – both well past her bedtime.

The taxi line stretched along the curb and after forty five minutes, she was next.

When another traveler sped over to the approaching taxi, the outcry was immediate, especially from the lady at the front.

A snappy exchange ensued until the line cutter backed down and the lady slid into the cab.

“Where to?”

The woman gave the address and was surprised when the driver pulled off in a huff. Five minutes later, they arrived at the hotel.

Relieved to be steps away from a bed, she handed over her bankcard.

Another huff escaped his lips and the lady blurted, “Do you have a problem with bank cards?”

“No,” the driver said before swiping her card. The lady scribbled on the pinpad and trekked into the hotel lobby.

Although the front desk service was amazing, the lady couldn’t muster a smile. She sulked into her lovely hotel room feeling terrible about the confrontations from the night.

So much for a dreamy travel day.

One event didn’t make this night awful.

Instead, several annoyances bubbled up and sullied the evening.

Stressful travel days are preventable. Use these steps to reduce travel stress and keep traveler rage at bay.

STEP ONE: KNOW YOUR TRIGGERS

To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom. ~ Socrates

The character in our story could have anticipated crankiness because of her long flight and lack of sleep. With a short fuse waiting to be lit, negative feelings can be explosive.

What sets you off on travel day? Is it huge crowds, flight delays or heavy luggage?

Acknowledging the bothersome situations that you may encounter puts you in a position to combat bad feelings as they arise.

STEP TWO: CHANGE YOUR MOOD

Our character ended her flight in a lousy mood and it affected other interactions that night.

Dwelling on a situation, fuels future negative feelings. The key is changing your emotions as soon as you realize they are going downhill.

Find out what makes you feel good to improve your mood. I have a list of 100 things that make me happy and when I’m down, I choose one of those things to cheer me up.

Have a few of these items on hand when you’re going to be in high stress situations.

Meditation also works to stop negative moods by shifting your concentration to your breathing or physical sensations. Another tactic of meditation is to accept that nothing is permanent – not even someone kicking the back of your seat.

I bet you have more tips to reduce stress on travel day. Tell us below!